Doctors in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday said a 34-year-old man has died after practicing qigong, drinking only water for two months.

The man, whose identity wasn't revealed, died of fatigue, according to doctors from the Trung Vuong Hospital, adding that they were called by his family after he lost consciousness.

He took on the Chinese exercise believing that it would help keep his body and spirit "clean", despite warnings and advise from others not to do it, news website VnExpress quoted his family as saying.

It is likely that the man practiced qigong because of mental disorders, doctors said.